SRA Handbook

Claims

Version 21 of the Handbook was published on 6 December 2018. For more information, please click "History" above.

Part 2: Claims

Rule 5: Claimants to money

5.1

Every claimant must deliver to the SRA a completed and signed claim form. The claim form shall require such information as may be prescribed by the SRA from time to time.

5.2

A claimant must provide such documentation and other evidence as may be requested by the SRA in order to support the claim including a statement of truth and proof of identity. Failure to provide such documentation or evidence will be taken into account by the SRA when deciding whether to make a payment in respect of a claim.

5.3

The SRA may, in its discretion, waive the requirements of rules 5.1 and/or 5.2.

Rule 6: Verification of claims

6.1

Subject to rule 6.2, the SRA will verify the individual potential beneficial entitlements claimed under rule 5 by examining all available evidence.

6.2

The extent of verification work will be determined by the SRA by considering, but not limited to, the circumstances of the intervention, the reliability of the accounts of the intervened practitioner and the perceived integrity of the list of beneficial entitlements prepared.

Rule 7: Shortfall in statutory trust account

7.1

In cases where a shortfall is revealed between the statutory trust monies held and the beneficial entitlements shown in a reconciled list or best list, the SRA may rectify the position, in whole or in part, by the use of other monies taken into its possession following the intervention to which that account relates.

7.2

Where a shortfall still exists on a statutory trust account after the application of the additional funds set out in rule 7.1, the SRA will decide on the method for distribution of the deficient account.

Rule 8: Distribution of beneficial entitlements

8.1

Any interest which has accrued on the statutory trust account under rule 2.2 will be distributed to beneficiaries on a pro-rata basis in proportion to the payments made to them or on such other basis as the SRA may decide.

Rule 9: Residual balances

9.1

The SRA may use any funds which remain in a statutory trust account following the distribution to beneficiaries under rule 8 to offset any costs, charges or other expenses which it has incurred in establishing the beneficial entitlements to the statutory trust monies and in distributing the monies accordingly.

9.2

If funds remain in a statutory trust account after payment to beneficiaries and the deduction of costs, charges and expenses in accordance with rule 9.1, the SRA may transfer such remaining funds into the compensation fund held by the SRA in respect of the activities carried on by the intervened practitioner and thereupon any claim to such funds shall be extinguished.

In these rules references in the preamble to the rules being made under paragraph 6 of Schedule 14 to the Legal Services Act 2007 shall have no effect until the Society is designated as a licensing authority under Part 1 of Schedule 10 to the LSA.